The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran (Nefertiti: Book 1)

In ancient Egypt, a forgotten princess must overcome her family’s past, and remake history.

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the 18th dynasty’s royal family - all with the exception of Nefertari, niece of the reviled former queen Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. A relic of a previous reign, Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But all of this changes when she is taken under the wing of pharaoh’s aunt, and brought to the Temple of Hathor where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the crown prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

In The Heretic Queen Michelle Moran has written an intriguing tale of love, loss, family, honour, value and mystery which is sure to have you mesmerised until the very last page.

The tale of Nefertari is one that will leave you wondering what family really means and what price we all pay with the names we are given. Recommended.

Michelle Moran was born in California. She worked as a teacher before her novel, Nefertiti, was published around the world in 2007. She has travelled around the world - including to Israel, where she participated in an archaeological dig that inspired her to begin writing historical fiction. She lives in Southern California.

8/10 An intriguing tale of love, loss, family, honour, value and mystery.